By now, you probably know at least a little about the Sustainable Development Goals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Each of the 17 SDGs address a particular global challenge, ranging from poverty to equality to climate change and beyond. The hope is that, together, we can achieve each of these goals by 2030, now less than a decade away, so as to secure a better, more sustainable future for us all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As a young person, the UN\u2019s Sustainable Development Goals may seem daunting\u2014how can I help to effect change when I am still in school or have no money to donate?<\/em> <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In this short guide, we\u2019ll go through 10 easy actions you can take on a daily or weekly basis, each at no cost (or very little) to you. On top of that, most of the actionable ideas below support more than one SDG, impactful solutions we can all get behind without spending any money.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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\n\n\n\nHere are 10 easy ways to help achieve the SDGs at little to no cost:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
1. Educate Yourself<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Before you take any action, whether to support the Sustainable Development Goals or another cause, it\u2019s important that you understand it. Luckily, with the ubiquity of the internet and the ability to find free information instantly, it\u2019s quite easy for us to educate ourselves on each of the SDGs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To get started, there\u2019s no better place than the United Nations\u2019 official website for the Sustainable Development Goals<\/a>. There, you can learn about each goal in depth, and you\u2019ll also get key numbers, targets, and further links. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
After you familiarize yourself there, also check out the \u201cYoung Person\u2019s Guide to Changing the World<\/a>,\u201d an accessible and actionable guide. Put together by AIESEC in collaboration with UN Volunteers, this PDF details what you can do to contribute to the SDGs as a young person based on the inputs of 500 young leaders from 126 countries and territories, an open survey and 13 organizations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
2. Volunteer<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Once you\u2019ve educated yourself, whether on all of the SDGs or one passion cause, volunteering is another great way to support the Sustainable Development Goals. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Through volunteering, you can choose to support any SDG or multiple SDGs at once. For example, help achieve Quality Education (Goal 4) by volunteering to teach or tutor children. Or, by donating your time to an animal care or conservation organization, you\u2019ll be working towards achieving Life on Land (Goal 15). <\/p>\n\n\n\n
AIESEC\u2019s Global Volunteer program<\/a> offers thousands of opportunities and experiences around the world, each designed to contribute toward a specific SDG. Find a volunteer opportunity which corresponds to the Sustainable Development Goal(s) which are most important to you and apply for a cross-cultural experience aimed to develop your leadership. Each Global Volunteer project helps you improve the following leadership qualities: self-awareness, world citizenship, empowering others and the ability to be solution-oriented.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Related Read<\/strong>: How to Set Goals You Can Actually Achieve (7+ Tips for Success)<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
3. Recycle<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
No conversation on sustainability would be complete without mentioning recycling. And, like most of the other actions on this list, recycling helps to achieve multiple goals<\/a>. While it\u2019s obvious that recycling promotes Clean Water and Sanitation (Goal 6), Climate Action (Goal 13), Life on Land (Goal 15), Responsible Consumption and Production (Goal 12), and Life Below Water (Goal 14), it also has some less-apparent benefits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Believe it or not, recycling helps create jobs, supporting Decent Work and Economic Growth (Goal 8). According to a study<\/a> by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), reaching a 75% recycling rate throughout the United States alone would create 1.5 million new jobs. And, by recycling your batteries correctly, it ensures they don\u2019t cause damage to the environment through the toxic chemicals within, supporting Affordable and Clean Energy (Goal 7).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
4. Donate<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
According to the World Bank, more than 735 million people<\/a> around the globe live in extreme poverty, which equates to about $1.90 a day or less. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The same goes for your unwanted clothing, electronics, and other belongings. Some donations go directly to those in need, while other donations may get sold as secondhand items, and the money received is used toward supporting a cause. For example, Oxfam<\/a> sends lightweight clothing donated to them over to people in Senegal, while using the income from selling other donations to support its mission of ending poverty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Related Read<\/strong>: How to Build Resilience (and Sustain It!) in 5 Easy Steps<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
5. Prioritize Businesses Which Support SDGs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Ever heard the saying vote with your wallet<\/em>? This idiom means that you support the organizations where you make purchases, whether it be products or services. If you are passionate about bringing about a more sustainable world, paying attention to where you shop helps multiple SDGs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
For example, support Gender Equality (Goal 5) and Reduced Inequalities (Goal 10) by doing business with companies and stores which promote diversity and provide decent living wages to their employees. Or, by buying from local farmers and producers, you\u2019re supporting small businesses in your area while also helping to achieve Zero Hunger (Goal 2). <\/p>\n\n\n\n
6. Organize a Clean Up<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
According to a report<\/a> by UNICEF and the World Health Organization (WHO), 2.2 billion people around the world\u2014about 1 in 3\u2014do not have access to safe drinking water. To support Clean Water and Sanitation (Goal 6), organize a cleanup of nearby waterways in your area, whether it be rivers, lakes, or ocean beaches.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Related Read<\/strong>: How to Save the Planet by Sharing Ideas on Climate Action<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
7. Commute Sustainably<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
In a report<\/a> published by the International Energy Agency (IEA), global transportation is responsible for almost one-quarter of direct CO2 emissions from fuel combustion. But, the good news is that it\u2019s easy here to make an impact and support Climate Action (Goal 13). <\/p>\n\n\n\n
8. Reduce Consumption<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
We already have more than 7.8 billion people on Earth; by 2050, this number is set to increase by almost another 2 billion, to 9.6 billion people, according to estimates. The average person creates 1.2 kg (2.65 lbs) of waste each and every day<\/em>. To be able to sustain our population growth over the coming decades, we\u2019re going to have to all take part in reducing our consumption.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To start, try to be more conscious about your everyday purchases, whether it\u2019s food, clothing, electronics, or something else. Replace your book buying with digital ebooks and audiobooks. Plan out your week ahead before going grocery shopping to help ensure you don\u2019t buy food which will simply get thrown into the trash. Unplug your electronics<\/a> when you\u2019re away from home to save on electricity, and take shorter showers to reduce water consumption<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As the UN\u2019s page on ensuring sustainable consumption and production patterns says<\/a>: \u201cSustainable consumption and production is about doing more and better with less. It is also about decoupling economic growth from environmental degradation, increasing resource efficiency and promoting sustainable lifestyles.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Related Read<\/strong>: 7 Simple (But Effective) Ways to Beat Climate Change<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
9. Vote<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
If you are of legal age in your district or country, always make sure you\u2019re registered to vote. Just as with educating yourself and volunteering, voting can effect change on each and every one of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
When you vote, you are showing your support for the causes and issues you believe in, while helping to elect leaders who will represent your views and ideals. Active engagement in policy formation means you make your voice heard, and you get a rare opportunity as a regular citizen to be part of important decision-making processes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
And, as Voting Counts puts it<\/a>, even \u201csupporting a candidate who might not necessarily win has a number of implications. Firstly, you will show the winning candidate what issues they should be focusing on if they want to win your vote next time around. For example, if Candidate A gets a large number of votes because of her stance on the Environment, then the winning Candidate B might try to do more on this issue in order to convince you to vote for them next time.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
10. Spread the Message<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Finally, one of the most impactful ways to help achieve the Sustainable Development Goals is to raise awareness of the various issues. The SDGs are quite ambitious, and, to reach success by 2030, we all need to play our part.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Once you\u2019ve educated yourself, spread the word on the Sustainable Development Goals, especially about the goal(s) which concern you the most. Start with your friends and family. If you study, participate or organize an extracurricular group which promotes the SDGs, or make them the focal point of a class project. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In public, make sure you\u2019re always taking public transportation, bringing your own reusable bags, and shopping at businesses which promote diversity, equality, and sustainability. There\u2019s no better way to spread the message on the importance of the Sustainable Development Goals than through leading by example!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Related Read<\/strong>: 6 Best Budgeting Apps for Students and Young Professionals<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Thanks for reading our guide on how to achieve the SDGs with little or no money! For more great ideas and simple actions for achieving each of the Sustainable Development Goals, download or read the full PDF of the \u201cYoung Person\u2019s Guide to Changing the World<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
* This article was originally written by me for publication on the AIESEC Blog<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"